HEALTH & BEAUTY: Stay Healthy This Winter

With the weather turning colder again, and the usual colds and flu doing the rounds, I thought you might like a few natural remedies to keep you fighting fit. When a cold strikes, there are a many herbal or nutritional remedies that will help to boost the immune system or relieve the symptoms. Many people know of the more common choices such as echinacea or vitamin C, so I've chosen a few lesser known remedies that you can make from your herb patch or kitchen cupboard.

Marjoram Tea

Marjoram contains essential oils that are excellent expectorants. Sip a cup of warming marjoram tea throughout the day to help a chesty or tickly cough. Steep 1 tsp fresh or dried leaves and flower heads in a cup of hot water for 5-10 minutes, strain and sip.

Lavender Steam

A lavender steam can do wonders for sore throats and blocked noses. It will help to open up airways and aid healing. Its very relaxing just before bed, and the essential sedative oils will aid a good night's sleep. Put 2 tsp fresh or dried lavender heads in bowl, pour over hot water, sit directly over the bowl and breathe deeply to inhale the cleansing steam. Please be careful when using hot or boiling water.

Lemon Balm Chest Rub

Anti-viral and soothing lemon balm oil, also known as Melissa, makes a calming chest rub when you have a chesty or hacking cough. Adding a few drops of peppermint oil helps to increase the benefits, as peppermint oil is a great decongestant. Finely chop 50g of lemon balm leaves and add half to 100m olive oil in a saucepan. Heat gently for 15 minutes, and then strain through muslin cloth. Put the strained oil back in the saucepan and add the other half of the chopped leaves. Heat for a further 15 minutes and then strain again. Add 5 drops of peppermint oil. Bottle the oil and then store in a cool place. Rub a few drops into the chest area to help with a chesty cough or cold.

Garlic Dip

Raw garlic is so good for you and an excellent food to eat to keep colds and flu at bay. The allicin it contains fights infection and helps you to recover more quickly. You can crush one to two cloves, add to some juice and gulp it down, or.... you might like to make a tasty dip to eat with some raw veggies for a super-food dose of goodness and deliciousness! I like to make a simple guacamole dip but with extra strength garlic: Blend 2 avocados in a blender. Add 1 chopped tomato and 4 spring onions. Add 4 cloves garlic. Add the juice of 1/2 a lime and a dash of tabasco sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with crudite of your choice.

Lastly, for an effective cough syrup that you can make from kitchen cupboard ingredients, check out the recipe in last year's Winter issue of UK Handmade.